Arthur L. Herman (born 1956) is an American historian, biographer, and policy writer whose work connects intellectual history, maritime power, war, and public policy. He earned a BA from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in history and classics from Johns Hopkins University. He is a senior fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin; Hudson Institute identifies him as a former senior fellow.
Herman has written histories and biographies for general readers, including How the Scots Invented the Modern World, Gandhi and Churchill: The Epic Rivalry That Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age, Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, and Douglas MacArthur: American Warrior. His catalogued book, To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World, traces the Royal Navy from its development under Henry VIII through the era of advanced warfare, examining its relationship to Britain’s rise as a global power. His official biography also describes his work in defense, technology, and national-security policy, including service as a senior adviser to the national security adviser in 2020–21.
His Gandhi and Churchill was a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist in General Nonfiction. Herman was the first non-British citizen appointed to the Scottish Arts Council, serving from 2007 to 2009. His more recent work continues to combine historical subjects with commentary on defense industry, technology, and economic resilience.
This profile is awaiting source review; collected books are already linked below.
